Remember to Love, Love to Remember

Episode 1

"Ely, okay na ba mga gamit mo? Naimpake na ba lahat ng kakailanganin mo?", tanong ng mama ni Ely.

"Oo, Ma. Andito na lahat sa luggage ko", sagot niya.

"Oh sya, sige na. Alis na tayo, baka mahuhuli na naman tayo sa flight natin".

Maaga silang umalis kaya ay may isang oras pa sila bago ang kanilang departure. Nagpakasaya't nagpahinga muna sila saglit habang hindi pa sila tinatawag.

Dalawang oras na ang nakalipas at nakarating na sila sa Manila. Sinalubong naman sila ng preskong hangin at mapayapang kapaligiran.

"Wow, ang ganda!", sabi ni Popoy.

Nagutom si Popoy bigla kaya't pumunta na muna sa isang pinakamalapit na fast food restaurant. Naghanap na sila ng mauupoan.

Habang pumipila si Ely ay nakabangga siya, "Ay sorry", sabi niya.

"Tumingin ka nga sa dinadaanan mo", she said.

"Nag-sorry na nga po".

"Sorry won't make any difference. Nakabangga ka pa rin".

"Oo na. Nagkamali na ako. Kasalanan ko na".

"Tsk. Lowly classed people nga naman", she said and headed to her table.

"Sungit...", sabi ni Ely sa kaniyang isipan.

"Oh, Shyra, bad mood ka ata. Kanina parang ang saya-saya mo pa ah. Then ngayong pagbalik mo, wala na lahat ng energy mo", said Gabe.

"Sino ba namang 'di maba-bad mood 'pag may nakabangga sa'yo", she replied.

"Did they apologize?", Allison asked.

"Yes, but--".

"Edi wala namang problema. They already apologize. And 'di rin naman nila sinadya 'di ba".

"'Di sinadya? Eh hindi nga siya tumingin sa dinadaanan niya".

"Hayaan mo na. Kumain ka na lang", said Gabe.

"Tsk. Bahala kayo".

Shyra glanced to her left and saw them, Ely and his family, having fun and enjoying the moments of their life, "Tsk."

Nang matapos kumain ay tumawag ng taxi si Ely at pumunta sa hotel na kanilang titirhan.

"Dito tayo titira kuya?", tanong ni Popoy.

"Yes, Popoy", sagot ni Ely.

Nag-check in sina Ely ngunit double bedrooms lang ang available ngayon. Kaya napag-isipan na lamang niyang ipagsama ang nanay niya't si Popoy habang siya ay makikitira na lamang.

Inihatid muna sila sa kwarto ng mama niya bago ang sa kaniya.

"Eto po roon niyo sir. Dito po bedroom niyo habang sa kabila naman sa roommate niyo", sabi ng bagger.

"Ah sige sige, salamat", sabi niya.

Lumabas si Ely at nagmamasid sa paligid, pinagmamasdan ang paglubog ng araw.

"Oh Shyra, may problema na naman?", asked Allison.

"The receptionist contacted me...", she replied.

"Oh? Ano daw sabi?".

"I have a new roommate daw".

"Roommate? Sino?".

"'Di ko alam".

"Can't imagine Shyra sharing a room with a roommate", said Gabe.

"Shut up. You girls know how much I hate sharing my belongings. They better have their own stuffs".

"Puntahan mo na".

"Sige sige. Bukas na lang ulit. Bye", she replied and left.

Shyra arrived and the living room light wasn't on. She speculated that they might be in their bedroom. She quietly turned the doorknob and peeked in, but nobody was inside.

"Walang tao...?", she said to herself and went to her bedroom.

"So, who was your new roommate?", Allison texted.

"Don't know. 'Di ko siya naabutan. Nagmamasid pa ata", she replied.

"How unfortunate...", said Gabe, "But you still have tomorrow".

"Yeah... I guess so. Anyways, good night".

"Good night".

Bumalik na si Ely at nakasindi pa rin ang ilaw sa living room, "Nakapatay 'to kanina ah. Nakauwi na kaya siya?...", sabi niya sa sarili niya.

Nilapitan niya ang pintuan ng roommate niya ngunit walang ingay ang maririnig. Hinala niya'y tulog na ito, kaya hindi na lamang niya inabala at pumasok na sa kaniyang kwarto.

Morning sunlight hit Shyra's face that woken her up. She stood and went to the dining room to grab some water, that then she noticed a paper on the dining table.

She opened it, and it says:

"Dear roommate,

          Good morning. I guess tulog ka pa nung nagising ako. So ginawan na rin kita ng breakfast mo. If malamig na pwede mo naman painitin pa. 'Yan lang niluto ko kasi 'di ko naman alam kung anong paborito mong pagkain. Pero sana ma-enjoy mo luto ko.

Sincerely,
bago mong roommate"

Shyra opened the lid and saw her favorite adobo still hot and fresh. It suddenly made her stomach growl. She hurrily grabbed a plate with spoon and fork and sat down, "Kainan na!".

After eating, Shyra thought of writing her roommate back and pasted it to the bedroom door of her roommate's. In the paper, it said:

"Dear roommate,

          Hi! I did not expect na paglulutoan mo'ko, especially na 'di pa tayo magkakakilala. To be honest, masarap ang niluto mong adobo. I hope mamaya, ganun pa rin lulutoin mo. I'll be looking forward to it. Thank you! ^^

Sincerely,
your beautiful roommate"

She left happily with a full stomach and met Gabe and Allisom by the café.

"So, still no information on who this new roommate is?", asked Gabe.

"Nope. Pero alam niyo girl, nilutoan niya ako ng breakfast ko like-- ackkk", she replied.

"Luh?! Nilutoan ka niya?! Agad-agad?!", shocked Allison.

"What do you mean 'agad-agad'?".

"Like, 'di pa naman kayo magkakakilala 'di ba? Ta's nilutoan ka na niya agad? He's already making a move huh", added Allison.

"Anong 'already making a move'. T'saka pa'no ka nakakasigurado na lalaki siya".

"'Di ba nilutoan ka niya?"

"Oo"

"Masarap ba luto niya?"

"Oo..."

"Check na check! Halatang boy ang roommate mo".

"Eh? Dahil lang do'n? Ewan ko sa'yo", said Shyra.

"Are you interested in this guy?", asked Gabe.

"What? Interested? Hell no. Why would I be interested in someone that I have not yet met in my entire life", she replied.

"Will you be interested then if you have already met him before?".

"No... I don't know... Pero let's not assume na they're a male ha. They could be a girl. 'Di lang natin alam".

"Sabagay, you have a point. But what if--".

"Stop! No. Enough na".

"Okay...".